Serie A Players Face 25% Pay Cut Upon Relegation

Under a new agreement between the Italian Footballers’ Association and Serie A, Italian top–flight players will receive a 25% obligatory pay cut if they are relegated to the second tier.

The five-year agreement was announced on Tuesday, formalising a pay cut which aims at easing the financial strain on clubs that drop out of Serie A. It will apply to all contracts signed after September 2, 2025 – the end of the transfer window.

Existing deals, though, will remain unaffected unless renegotiated.

For years, Serie A clubs have pushed for contractual flexibility to manage financial losses following relegation, especially due to reduced TV revenue. Until now, teams relied on selling players or terminating contracts to cut the considerable costs of dropping down to Serie B.

This structural shift allows for an automatic mechanism for wage adjustment. Exceptions can be made if clubs and players negotiate alternative terms. The ruling is designed to make the system more sustainable and fairer for both parties.

“This agreement represents a significant step forward for our football system,” said Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli. “It is a historic agreement, both for its content and the method used to reach it: a process of constructive dialogue, developed over time with a spirit of responsibility and a shared vision.”

He added: “Our goal, as Lega Serie A, is to contribute to an increasingly solid, fair, and sustainable system, in which the needs of clubs and players can be reconciled in the shared interest of protecting and growing the sport.”

AIC player’s union President Umberto Calcagno shared a similar view, stating: “The new agreement is the result of constructive dialogue between the parties, with a view to safeguarding the interests of the entire system.”

Clubs will now prepare for the long-term implications, as automatic salary reductions could influence transfer negotiations, player retention, and financial planning for teams at risk of relegation.

The 2025-26 campaign will begin on August 23rd, with defending champions Napoli, now featuring legendary playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, away to Sassuolo while runners-up Inter meet Torino.

Insideworldfootball.com